Difference between revisions of "User:Slim1/Final project"
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| + | =Code= | ||
| + | The code is available on my public [https://github.com/sjorcindy/xal-keyboards github repository]. | ||
| + | |||
=Description= | =Description= | ||
| + | ==Approach== | ||
I chose the [https://wikis.swarthmore.edu/ling073/Final_projects/Keyboard_layouts keyboard layout] project. I developed installable Kalmyk keyboard layouts for three different operating systems: Linux, Windows, and MacOS. For Linux, I created a English-keyboard based phonetic layout; for Windows and MacOS, I created a phonetic layout and a Tatar-based layout. | I chose the [https://wikis.swarthmore.edu/ling073/Final_projects/Keyboard_layouts keyboard layout] project. I developed installable Kalmyk keyboard layouts for three different operating systems: Linux, Windows, and MacOS. For Linux, I created a English-keyboard based phonetic layout; for Windows and MacOS, I created a phonetic layout and a Tatar-based layout. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I used [http://scripts.sil.org/ukelele SIL's Ukelele] to create the MacOS keyboard. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I used the [https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/globalization/keyboardlayouts.aspx Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator] to create the Windows keyboard. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I created and edited an xkb file in Linux to create the Linux keyboard. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Design Principles== | ||
The English phonetic layout is for non-native speakers and learners of Kalmyk who are unfamiliar with the Russian keyboard layout. For the phonetic layouts, I tried to stay as consistent with the English keyboard layout as possible, mapping the Cyrillic characters to the position of the equivalent-sounding English characters. For Cyrillic characters without an English counterpart, I either placed them near the closest-sounding English keys, or placed them near related Cyrillic characters. I also tried to preserve the location of important punctuation keys in the English layout. | The English phonetic layout is for non-native speakers and learners of Kalmyk who are unfamiliar with the Russian keyboard layout. For the phonetic layouts, I tried to stay as consistent with the English keyboard layout as possible, mapping the Cyrillic characters to the position of the equivalent-sounding English characters. For Cyrillic characters without an English counterpart, I either placed them near the closest-sounding English keys, or placed them near related Cyrillic characters. I also tried to preserve the location of important punctuation keys in the English layout. | ||
[[File:Kalmyk (phonetic) layout.png|thumb|center|The Linux phonetic layout I created]] | [[File:Kalmyk (phonetic) layout.png|thumb|center|The Linux phonetic layout I created]] | ||
| + | [[File:Xalphon firstlevel.png|thumb|center|First level of the MacOS phonetic layout I created]] | ||
| + | [[File:Xalphon thirdlevel.png|thumb|center|Third level of the MacOS phonetic layout I created]] | ||
The Tatar-based layout is for Kalmyk speakers with little knowledge of English. The official xkb Kalmyk layout in Linux is equal to the Russian layout, with the six additional letters in Kalmyk added on the number row. This is convenient for Kalmyk speakers who frequently type in Russian, as it allows the user to type in both languages without switching keyboards. However, this is also inconvenient because the six letters that are not present in Russian are used quite frequently in Kalmyk. The new layout attempted to remedy this problem. It was closely based on the Linux Tatar layout, as they use the equal set of characters. The Tatar layout also does not differ too much from the Russian layout, which will make it easier for people who are used to the Russian keyboard to learn this layout. Once again, I placed important punctuations in accessible locations. | The Tatar-based layout is for Kalmyk speakers with little knowledge of English. The official xkb Kalmyk layout in Linux is equal to the Russian layout, with the six additional letters in Kalmyk added on the number row. This is convenient for Kalmyk speakers who frequently type in Russian, as it allows the user to type in both languages without switching keyboards. However, this is also inconvenient because the six letters that are not present in Russian are used quite frequently in Kalmyk. The new layout attempted to remedy this problem. It was closely based on the Linux Tatar layout, as they use the equal set of characters. The Tatar layout also does not differ too much from the Russian layout, which will make it easier for people who are used to the Russian keyboard to learn this layout. Once again, I placed important punctuations in accessible locations. | ||
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[[File:Russian.png|thumb|center|Linux Russian layout]] | [[File:Russian.png|thumb|center|Linux Russian layout]] | ||
[[File:Russian.png|thumb|center|Linux Tatar layout]] | [[File:Russian.png|thumb|center|Linux Tatar layout]] | ||
| + | [[File:Xal firstlevel.png|thumb|center|First level of the MacOS layout I created]] | ||
| + | [[File:Xal thirdlevel.png|thumb|center|Third level of the MacOS layout I created]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
=Evaluation= | =Evaluation= | ||
| + | I evaluated the keyboard on myself. This is obviously not a fair measure of the utility of the keyboard for various reasons, and only speakers of the language can truly evaluate the utility of the Tatar-Russian based layout. However, I provide parameters and results so they may be used as a source of comparison. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The "test" consisted of measuring time, number of referrals to the keyboard layout display, and number of typos while typing a random corpus of 50 words that I had not seen before. I ran three trials and averaged the results. I did not correct typos as I typed. I used typing in English as the control, since I speak it fluently and I am also very familiar with the layout, which is the most common state of typists of a language. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ; English layout ("control group") | ||
| + | :* time spent typing (seconds): 47.3 | ||
| + | :* number of referrals to the layout display: 0 | ||
| + | :* typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 2.3 | ||
| + | |||
| + | ; Phonetic layout | ||
| + | : I used a prototype version of the phonetic layout - a layout I created when the only exposure I had to the language and orthography was looking up the alphabet - throughout the semester. Thus, it did not take me long to become accustomed to this new phonetic version. Some variables to note: I do not speak the language, but am reasonably familiar with the orthography; I am the designer of the keyboard. | ||
| + | :* time spent typing (seconds): 109.4 | ||
| + | :* number of referrals to the layout display: 2.6 | ||
| + | :* typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 7.0 | ||
| + | |||
| + | ; Tatar-based layout | ||
| + | : The three experiments include my first usage of the keyboard. Some variables to note: I do not speak the language; I am the designer of the keyboard. | ||
| + | :* time spent typing (seconds): 261.8 | ||
| + | :* number of referrals to the layout display: had it displayed constantly | ||
| + | :* typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 3.0 | ||
| + | : Since I don't know the layout, I had it displayed to the side as I typed. The low number of typos is due to the slow speed and frequent referrals to the corpus I was typing. | ||
[[Category:sp17_FinalProjects]] | [[Category:sp17_FinalProjects]] | ||
[[Category:Kalmyk]] | [[Category:Kalmyk]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:45, 11 May 2017
Code
The code is available on my public github repository.
Description
Approach
I chose the keyboard layout project. I developed installable Kalmyk keyboard layouts for three different operating systems: Linux, Windows, and MacOS. For Linux, I created a English-keyboard based phonetic layout; for Windows and MacOS, I created a phonetic layout and a Tatar-based layout.
I used SIL's Ukelele to create the MacOS keyboard.
I used the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to create the Windows keyboard.
I created and edited an xkb file in Linux to create the Linux keyboard.
Design Principles
The English phonetic layout is for non-native speakers and learners of Kalmyk who are unfamiliar with the Russian keyboard layout. For the phonetic layouts, I tried to stay as consistent with the English keyboard layout as possible, mapping the Cyrillic characters to the position of the equivalent-sounding English characters. For Cyrillic characters without an English counterpart, I either placed them near the closest-sounding English keys, or placed them near related Cyrillic characters. I also tried to preserve the location of important punctuation keys in the English layout.
_layout.png)
The Tatar-based layout is for Kalmyk speakers with little knowledge of English. The official xkb Kalmyk layout in Linux is equal to the Russian layout, with the six additional letters in Kalmyk added on the number row. This is convenient for Kalmyk speakers who frequently type in Russian, as it allows the user to type in both languages without switching keyboards. However, this is also inconvenient because the six letters that are not present in Russian are used quite frequently in Kalmyk. The new layout attempted to remedy this problem. It was closely based on the Linux Tatar layout, as they use the equal set of characters. The Tatar layout also does not differ too much from the Russian layout, which will make it easier for people who are used to the Russian keyboard to learn this layout. Once again, I placed important punctuations in accessible locations.
Evaluation
I evaluated the keyboard on myself. This is obviously not a fair measure of the utility of the keyboard for various reasons, and only speakers of the language can truly evaluate the utility of the Tatar-Russian based layout. However, I provide parameters and results so they may be used as a source of comparison.
The "test" consisted of measuring time, number of referrals to the keyboard layout display, and number of typos while typing a random corpus of 50 words that I had not seen before. I ran three trials and averaged the results. I did not correct typos as I typed. I used typing in English as the control, since I speak it fluently and I am also very familiar with the layout, which is the most common state of typists of a language.
- English layout ("control group")
- time spent typing (seconds): 47.3
- number of referrals to the layout display: 0
- typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 2.3
- Phonetic layout
- I used a prototype version of the phonetic layout - a layout I created when the only exposure I had to the language and orthography was looking up the alphabet - throughout the semester. Thus, it did not take me long to become accustomed to this new phonetic version. Some variables to note: I do not speak the language, but am reasonably familiar with the orthography; I am the designer of the keyboard.
- time spent typing (seconds): 109.4
- number of referrals to the layout display: 2.6
- typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 7.0
- Tatar-based layout
- The three experiments include my first usage of the keyboard. Some variables to note: I do not speak the language; I am the designer of the keyboard.
- time spent typing (seconds): 261.8
- number of referrals to the layout display: had it displayed constantly
- typos (number of words typed incorrectly): 3.0
- Since I don't know the layout, I had it displayed to the side as I typed. The low number of typos is due to the slow speed and frequent referrals to the corpus I was typing.
